Community Sports

As the overtime period started between Chiefland and Branford, it looked like we’d get more of what we saw during regulation, as the Branford offense was immediately hit with a false start on its first play.
The overtime format allows teams to trade possessions with a fresh set of downs, starting at the opponent's’ 10-yard-line.

Chiefland was given a scare in its homecoming win over Branford last Friday, but its coaches and players know it will have to play better to get by one of the better Newberry teams in recent years this Friday.
The Panthers, led by first-year head coach Richard Vester, have rolled to a 4-0 start, taking out county rivals Alachua Santa Fe and Class 5A Gainesville Eastside, before picking up a 40-22 over 1A power Union County and beating Williston on the road 30-14 in last Friday’s district opener.

Bronson head football coach Curtis Stacy knew last Friday’s home game against Cross City-Dixie County would provide an honest assessment of how far his young team must improve in order to compete with elite teams in the area, most notably those who’ve dominated the Eagles’ former district.
With multiple final four appearances in recent years and a regional finals appearance in 2015, the Bears have been second only to two-time state champion Trenton in local 1A football.

After taking on one of the area’s premier programs at John Rutledge Field last Friday, Bronson hits the road with hopes of being homecoming spoilers in Branford as it takes on another District 1A-7 squad.
While the Buccaneers might not measure up to the team from Cross City, BMHS head coach Curtis Stacy and his Eagles know they have another gritty opponent ahead of them, after seeing Branford hold Chiefland scoreless in regulation and force their game into overtime.

Dot Bird took low gross in the first flight in the Lady Gator Tournament season opener, hosted by the Chiefland Women’s Golf Association on Sept. 14. Also in the first flight, Vicki Hope finished with the lowest net, followed by Cathy Steen and Irene Foshay. The tournament included competitors from Chiefland, Lake City and Gainesville. Prizes for five flights were awarded during a lunch provided by Church’s Chicken.

Football teams often risk becoming distracted during homecoming week, leaving the actual opponent to become more of an afterthought to the week’s festivities.
Chiefland shouldn’t have to worry this week, however, as its homecoming tilt this Friday against Branford is also its district opener.
It’s also only the second game of the season for the Indians.

When the Arlington Country Day football team made the trip from Jacksonville to take on Chiefland last Friday, it ran into a team full of pent-up energy, hankering to face someone in a different jersey.